Lamb's Breath

"Brother Ning, those people came looking for us again yesterday..."

Chu Yun's voice trembled.

Chu Ning clenched his fists, the sound cracking, and abruptly lifted his lowered head:

"These bastards, not only did they take over my business, but they also want to squeeze me like this!"

The autumn wind in November was biting. Chu Ning returned from the mountain and had just stepped into the house when he heard this.

In this world, one's birth practically determined everything.

Opportunities, sudden rises to prominence – these were all just daydreams.

Three months ago, he woke up and transmigrated into the body of a small hunter in the Great Gan Dynasty.

Not only was the house bare, but the original body's father had just passed away, and the white burial cloth still covered his body, which was placed inside the house.

Helpless, Chu Ning went to the Wang Family pawnshop in the county to borrow "lamb's usury."

To change his predicament, he wanted to use his memories from his past life to do business. However, he lacked both strength and connections. Just as his business began to show promise, it was forcefully taken away.

Chu Ning noticed his sister's reddened eyes and felt a pang of sadness. He tried to steady his voice and said, "Elder Sister, don't worry. When I went up the mountain this time, I found traces of several rabbit and pheasant nests. I'll hunt them tomorrow and exchange them for money."

"Don't lie to me. The weather is getting colder and colder. Where will you find so many prey to hunt?"

Chu Yun's face was full of worry.

"I'm not lying to you, Elder Sister. Our family has been hunting for generations. Can this skill be compared to others? Alright, you're not feeling well, go get some proper rest."

With that, Chu Ning helped Chu Yun into the house.

When he came out again, he scanned the dilapidated house: two or three ceramic bowls with chipped corners were neatly placed on a table missing a leg; a narrow beam of light shone down from a gap in the roof.

Chu Ning's heart felt heavy, like those long-uncleaned, dust-filled corners.

The autumn wind blew in through several large holes in the window, continuously beating against the door, making creaking sounds.

"Difficult, difficult, difficult!"

Chu Ning took out half a coarse grain biscuit, leaned back in his chair, and sighed heavily, "This damned world just wants to push people to their death!"

He covered his face with his hand, trying hard to think of a way out, but for every idea he had, he rejected it. His eyes, which hadn't slept for two days, were bloodshot.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A heavy banging on the door suddenly rang out.

"Chu family brat, get out here for me!"

Outside the door, a scarred man, accompanied by four or five subordinates, was shouting furiously.

"Creak—"

The dilapidated door was pushed open. Chu Ning, his face grim, stared at them.

Lamb's usury, to put it bluntly, was usury.

With his father's funeral and his failed venture, he couldn't repay the loan, and the interest kept piling up.

For the past month, they had come almost every day. All the valuables in the house had already been cleared out.

"Chu kid! You still haven't paid the interest, what's going on? Do you want me to come here every single day?!"

The scarred man, upon arrival, immediately launched into a torrent of scolding.

Chu Ning gritted his teeth and said, almost word for word, "Of course not. Here's the remaining thirty wen."

But after fumbling in his embrace for a while, he took out thirty copper coins, one by one.

"Clatter—"

The copper coins clinked together and scattered onto the scarred man's thick palm.

"Hmph! Why is it only this much? This amount isn't even enough for my travel expenses!"

The scarred man took the money, weighed it in his hand, snorted coldly, and continued to question him.

Chu Ning's expression completely darkened, his eyes fixed on the scarred man:

"We agreed on a monthly interest of fifty wen, why has it changed now?"

"Monthly interest? I think you're confused. It's interest every seven days! Three months have passed, and you now owe a full four taels of silver, including principal and interest."

Four taels? He had only borrowed two taels initially, and in just three months, it had doubled!

"Slap!"

Before Chu Ning could speak again, a slap fiercely landed on his face in an instant.

Just as Chu Ning was about to be consumed by anger.

A chill suddenly ran through his mind, forcing him to calm down.

At this moment, a bronze token he'd acquired in his past life suddenly materialized.

[Chaos Divine Order, borrow the Great Dao to break the universe!]

[Current Token Master: Chu Ning]

[Current Token Master is attempting to pre-borrow the martial art: Rough Stone Hardening Technique, using his own cultivation method.]

[Repayment Condition: Successfully complete one thousand deep squats while carrying a hundred-pound boulder. Upon repayment, the next pre-borrowing effect will be unlocked!]

[Current Martial Arts Available for Pre-borrowing: Zero]

In an instant, a massive and unfamiliar power surged into his limbs and bones without any warning.

In the blink of an eye, a flood of cultivation experience poured into Chu Ning's mind.

He vaguely saw himself, day after day, rubbing his skin with rough, sharp gravel. Sweat poured from him from the pain, blood constantly oozing and scabbing over, yet he never wavered, all for the sake of forging skin as tough as rock.

The scene then shifted to him struggling uphill on a mountain path with a boulder on his back. Every step felt like carrying a thousand pounds, sweat soaking his clothes, every muscle aching and trembling…

Chu Ning could clearly feel the explosive increase in strength within his body, his muscles taut and filled with power.

But before Chu Ning could even react, he heard a voice.

"Three days. I don't care how you do it, but if you can't pay up in three days, I'll take your sister as collateral!"

After the scarred man finished speaking, he was about to lead his lackeys away, muttering, "What a coward, worse than that stubborn trash his dad was."

Chu Ning thought of the humiliation he'd endured over the past three months, and his eyes seemed ready to spew flames.

"Damn it, all of you, stop right there!"

Chu Ning roared.

The scarred man turned around, the flesh on his face looking even more grotesque due to his sinister grin. He rubbed the short club in his hand as he advanced on Chu Ning, spewing curses, "You little brat, what did you just say? Say it again if you dare!"

The lackeys behind him joined in with laughter, like a pack of wolves smelling blood, ready to pounce and tear their prey apart at any moment.

Chu Ning took a deep breath. The power from the Chaos Divine Order's pre-borrowing of the Rough Stone Hardening Technique surged through his veins, giving him unprecedented courage and strength.

He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. His eyes were fixed on the scarred man, his gaze as if it could burn the man to a crisp.

"I said, all of you stop! No one is leaving today!"

Chu Ning shouted, word by word, his voice carrying an undeniable aura of authority.

The scarred man acted as if he'd heard the biggest joke in the world. He laughed so hard he doubled over, casually swinging the short club in his hand: "Just you? Who do you think you are? If you don't pay the money today, it won't be as simple as your sister being taken as collateral."

Chu Ning was not intimidated by the man's harsh words. On the contrary, his blood was boiling at that moment.

He took a sudden step forward, the ground beneath his feet trembling slightly from the force of his movement.

During the new book period, please collect and read, don't just hoard it, thank you!